Natural Homemade Remedies for Dry Skin

Updated on March 27, 2016

Wheat germ oil is full of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that heals and repairs

Freezing weather and central heating are two of the skin’s worst enemies. The trouble is, they're impossible to escape during the harsh winter months—at least you can stay out of the sun in summer. They punish skin, leaving it chapped, flaky and dry, which is unsightly, uncomfortable and even painful. And the more severe the problem gets, the more ineffectual regular skin care products seem. That's when it's time to try homemade remedies—they often succeed where bought products fail.

All-Over Body Mask

If your skin is prone to dryness even at the best of times, you’re bound to suffer unmercifully during the cold season. Worst of all is the intolerable feeling of tautness, which is sometimes accompanied by itching.

Beat one egg yolk with three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, stir in half a cup of wheat germ oil and add a couple of drops of essential oil of rose.

Spread the mixture over your whole body and allow to work for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse under a warm shower.

The vinegar restores the skin’s pH balance, wheat germ oil is full of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that heals and repairs, and rose oil—apart from smelling like summer—is known for its valuable anti-aging properties.

Just throw a few bags of soothing lavender, chamomile or rosehip tea into a hot tub

Tea for Thirsty Skin

This fragrant bath softens and calms rough and sensitive skin, and is as easy to prepare as making yourself a hot cup of tea on a cold winter’s night.

Just throw a few bags of soothing lavender, chamomile or rosehip tea into a hot tub and add a little evening primrose oil.

You can use ordinary teabags for this, but there is such a thing as 'tub bags' made especially for bathing. Another option is reusable muslin teabags with a drawstring—all you do is fill them with whatever herb or flower you'd like your infusion or bath to be flavored with. Or what about making your own 'tub bags' with your old pantyhose?

Carrot Face Mask

Putting makeup on a dull, flaky face does not make it look better. In fact, it makes it look worse! What really helps is a skin-nourishing mask that repairs, brightens and hydrates.

Try this carrot mask before applying makeup:

Toss three medium sized carrots, one egg yolk and a tablespoon of wheat germ oil in the blender. Apply the resulting paste to your face, neck and cleavage and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes.

You can suffer dry skin all year round, not only in winter. Sun damage, allergies or aging might be to blame, but whatever the cause, there’s an oil to help

Oils for Dry Skin

You can suffer dry skin all year round, not only in winter. Sun damage, allergies or aging might be to blame, but whatever the cause, there’s an oil to help.The versatile remedies above use wheat germ and evening primrose oil, but you can substitute them for an oil more suitable for your skin problem:

Kukui Nut Oil from Hawaii heals sun damaged skin.

Almond Oil resembles the oils found in the skin and can help restore an impaired barrier function—this is particularly helpful for mature skin.

Wheat Germ Oil is rich in vitamin E and ideal for weather-beaten skin.

Jojoba Oil soothes rashes and inflammations, relieves itchiness and regenerates. It's also noncomedogenic, which means it can benefit acne prone skin, especially if it tends to dryness.

Elderberry Oil is an excellent antioxidant. Because of its light texture, it absorbs easily making it suitable for daytime wear.

Dry skin needs a facial cleanser that is gentle, hydrating and capable of removing every trace of dirt and makeup. | Source

Sea Buckthorn Oil, also known as Sallow Thorn or Sandthorn Oil, is rich in vitamin E and beta-Carotene (pro-vitamin A) and renowned for its anti-aging properties.

Musk Rose Oil has a good smoothing effect and is used to treat of scars.

Evening Primrose Oil smooths and sooths rough and sensitive skin. Dermatologists also prescribe it as a treatment for neurodermatitis.

Oil in Water Cleanser

Dry skin needs a facial cleanser that is gentle, hydrating and capable of removing every trace of dirt and makeup. So-called oil in water cleansers do the job perfectly, but there’s no need to buy one.

For the same effect, just massage your face with an oil from the above list, add water, work into an emulsion and rinse. Wipe your face with cotton pads and clarify with thermal water.